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No Marijuana Ads Allowed? No Way, Say Magazines

The publisher of marijuana magazine High Times has sued the state of Colorado in federal court over the state's rules preventing recreational cannabis businesses from advertising in most publications.

The publisher of marijuana magazine High Times has sued the state of Colorado in federal court over the state's rules preventing recreational cannabis businesses from advertising in most publications.

High Times, along with local weekly magazine Westword, filed the lawsuit on Monday. It marks the first time anyone has challenged the restrictions in court.


The rules allow recreational marijuana businesses to advertise only in publications that are adult-oriented. According to the state's rules, recreational marijuana stores can advertise only in a publication that "has reliable evidence that no more than 30 percent of the publication's readership is reasonably expected to be under the age of 21." There is no such restriction on medical marijuana businesses.

The lawsuit argues the rules, which also restrict television, radio and outdoor advertising, are an unconstitutional restriction of free speech.

Caroline Cournoyer is GOVERNING's senior web editor.
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